Are we held accountable for our thoughts?
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I saw this verse
"To God is what is in the heavens and in earth, and whether you declare what is in your souls or hide it, God will call you to account for it. He will forgive whom He wishes, and punish whom He wishes, and God is capable of all things." (2284)
And this has me scared.
I thought maybe it refers to if you declare to God your sin or not you will be accounted it,
or maybe it mean that you intended to do something bad but stopped for some reason or didn't stop you'll be accountable.Or rather this is talking about ones intention behind what they do. If their intention was good or not such as paying charity Was it so you can please God with it or rather to make people think highly of you? Or another example being giving a false testimony where you hide some of the truth. It might appear to be the truth but really intended bad by hiding such a thing thus making it a sin of the heart.
Or does that verse mean that you'll be accountable for anything sinful you think of? Like if I were to simply think of a simple fantasy where I punched this person I didn't like in the face without ever intended to want to do it or do it, is that still a sin? or would it only become a sin if I put that into action?
Help guys cause this has me scared
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I saw this verse
"To God is what is in the heavens and in earth, and whether you declare what is in your souls or hide it, God will call you to account for it. He will forgive whom He wishes, and punish whom He wishes, and God is capable of all things." (2284)
And this has me scared....
Aryan Warrior,
Yes absolutely, God will hold all of us accountable for our deepest thoughts. You need to realize that God's law is not given so man may glorify himself in it, but to warn him. When a man sees himself in the mirror of God's holy and perfect law, all that will look back at him is death, condemnation and hell. You must flee to God's mercy, which is unmerited, and which He gives graciously and gratuitously; do not look to yourself for "righteousness" you will only find cause for condemnation, take hold of God's promise of mercy freely given. That is the good news promised, believe it and be saved. As an example see Pharaoh's magicians at 2651.
Peace
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Well i've calmed down and have given this another look and did some research.
All I can say is thank God as it seems a lot more clear now that it is indeed talking about your intention behind something.
"...And do not hold back the testimony. And whoever holds it back, then he has sinned in his heart, and God is aware of what you do." (2183)
This was the verse before this and talks about how the sin is one done with the heart and considering this comes after it too, this seems to be talking about the intentions behind a sin whether it is corrupting what would normally appear to someone else as not a sin but has bad intentions behind it or examples like false testimony which only God knows what your soul was actually doing and thinking there.
As well as other verses related to the heart or soul
"Allah will not call you to account for what is vain in your oaths, but He will call you to account for what your hearts have earned (2225)""...surely the hearing and the sight and the heart, all of these, shall be questioned about that (1736)."
Thus it seems to be indeed aiming at just that, intentions from the heart as the other verses seem to be sighting. Thus I wouldn't think simply thinking about a sinful fantasy without plans of actually doing it are sinful then
Aryan Warrior,
Yes absolutely, God will hold all of us accountable for our deepest thoughts. You need to realize that God's law is not given so man may glorify himself in it, but to warn him. When a man sees himself in the mirror of God's holy and perfect law, all that will look back at him is death, condemnation and hell. You must flee to God's mercy, which is unmerited, and which He gives graciously and gratuitously; do not look to yourself for "righteousness" you will only find cause for condemnation, take hold of God's promise of mercy freely given. That is the good news promised, believe it and be saved. As an example see Pharaoh's magicians at 2651.
Peace
As for this, this isn't really what I mean. I understand we are rightous and thus we avoid sin to the best we can, but I simply mean just a simple fantasy without any desire to put it into any action
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I believe I will be held accountable for my intention not my thoughts. Alot of times, I can't control what im thinking... sounds weird, but its true (for me at least)
We're only human this religion isn't suppose to be burden and God is merciful so I also believe you are correct.